Folding door mounting structure



June 8, 1965 c. A. KIRBY FOLDING DOOR MOUNTING STRUCTURE Filed March 22, 1963 ChcrIes AKirby llIlIl/lIlIlI/IIIIIIMII Mann--- IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,1818% FOLDING DGGR MOUNTING STRUCTURE Charles A. Kirby, Tacoma, Wash, assignor to Aliied Building Components, Inc, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Mar. 22, 1%3, Ser. No. 267,186 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-406) This invention relates in general to folding doors and more particularly is concerned with mounting structure therefor.

'An important object of the present invention is to provide mounting structure for folding doors which facilitates fast and easy installation of such doors and which does not deface door frame portions.

A more particular object is to provide mounting structure for folding doors employing a pressure sensitive gluing strip for attaching guide and supporting elements to door framing, thereby eliminating the use of fasteners such as nails, screws, etc. which deface the door framing.

It is another object to provide pivot mounting structure for folding doors facilitating adjustment of the doors in a door opening.

Still another object is to provide folding door mounting structure employing improved catch means associated with a travelling pivot guide to hold the folding door in open position.

Briefly stated, the folding door mounting structure of the instant invention is embodied in a novel arrangement and structure of elements accomplishing the above enumerated objects. It employs supporting or guiding elements of a nature facilitating the attachment thereof to door framing by means of a pressure sensitive gluing strip. One of such elements comprises a track for guiding the movement of a guide pin and which houses an upper pivot block. Forming a part of the pivot block is a catch adapted to be engaged by the guide pin and, adapted to form a lock therefor. Vertically aligned with the upper pivot block is lower 'hinge means, also attached to the door framing by a gluing strip and incorporating an improved arrangement of adjustment means for adjusting the door laterally in its opening.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects thereof will become more apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts, and wherein:

P16. 1 is a foreshortened fragmentary elevational view partly in section and partly broken away illustrating the herein described folding door mounting structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the track and the upper pivot block, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a' fragmentary top plan view of the upper pivot block, taken on the line 33 of FIG. .1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lower hinge means, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

The folding door mounting structure of the present invention is adapted to be associated with door framing elements such as side jambs 10, a head piece 12, and the floor 14.

Door structure intended to be supported by the present invention comprises at least two vertically arranged panels 16 and 18, the panel 16 being hinged adjacent one side thereof at upper and lower stationary points and the panel 18 being hinged in edge to edge relation in folding relationship to panel 16 by suitable hinges 20.

Embodied in the mounting structure is a track 22 which may assume the cross sectional configuration shown in FIG. 2. Necessarily, this track employs a flat base or body portion 24 by means of which it is secured to the head piece 12 by a gluing strip 26 of the type having a door framing, as in the case when screws or nails are used.

The glue strip attachment of the track 22 also has the advantage that the latter may be constructed of material of considerably less structural strength, and consequently of less cost, than where screws or nails are used since the strip 20 provides for overall connection and support of the track rather than spot connection.

Track 22 has a bottom wall 28 which is slotted centrally at 30 throughout the length thereof.

Secured interiorly of the track 22 at one end thereof is an upper pivot block or mounting unit 34. which preferably has an exterior shape and dimension similar to the interior shape and dimension of the track 22. This pivot block is secured to the track in adjusted positions longitudinally of the latter by a set screw 36 threadedly supported in the block and engageable with the upper wall 24 of the track. Block 34 has a central longitudinal groove 38-and a pair of forwardly projecting catch fingers 40 the inner edges of which are tapered outwardly to form a flared inlet opening 42 terminating in a notch 44-, the fingers 40 having recesses 46 on their outer edges adjacent the 'notch 44 and the block having a longitudinalslot 48 leading inwardly from the notch 44 to provide sufficient resilience to this portion of the block to facilitate operation thereof as a catch. Asuitable material for the block 34 comprises a metal or a tough durable plastic such as nylon or Teflon.

Pivot block 34 has an aperture or socket 50 formtatably receivingthe upper end of a pivot pin 52 slidably received in a sleeve or insert 54 having a longitudinal bore the'rethrough formed with an annular interior shoulder 56. Sleeve 54 is formed with longitudinal fiuting 58 dimensioned for a press fit in a bore or recess 61 in the top edge of the door panel 16. Sleeve 54 has a top flange 62 countersunk in the top edge of the door.

Pivot pin 52 has a reduced lower portion 64 forming a shoulder 66 with the larger upper portion of the pin, and this pin isspring pressed in an upward direction by a spring 68 confined between such shoulder 66 and the shoulder 56 of the bore, the pin 52 having a lower or inner head 79 which limits the upward or outward travel of the pin and also having an upper flange 72 which is located downwardly from the upper end of the pin to serve as a thrust bearing in sliding engagement with the 80. The bottom and right-hand end surfaces of the body portion 78 are flat and are secured to the floor '14 and a jamb 10 by a gluing strip 82 similar to the strip 26.

The upper surface of pivot housing 76 is recessed at '84 and the bottom of this recess has teeth disposed in a direction normal to the longitudinal length of the housing 76. Associated with the housing 76 is a pivotblock having bottom teeth 92 adapted to mesh with teeth 86 and adapted to provide'an adjustable positioning of the block 90 longitudinally'of the housing.

Lower pivot block 90 has a centrally tapered upper surface 94 leading to a central aperture or socket 96 which receives a pivot pin 98. This pin has a threaded shank portion 1% threadedly engaged in a longitudinal 'bore of a sleeve or insert 102 provided with longitudinal fluting 104 and dimensioned to have a press fit in a bore or recess 1% leading upwardly from the bottom edge of the door panel 16. The bottom projecting distance of the pivot pin 98 may be varied by threaded adjustment thereof in the sleeve 102 and a locked position thereof is accomplished by nut 108 adapted to be threadedly engaged with the lower end of the sleeve.

The bores 60 and 106 are vertically aligned in the door panel 16. The weight of the door is borne by the lower pivot block 90 and the door assembly is maintained in its upright position by the pivot block 34 as engaged by the pivot pin 52. It will be noted that both the upper and lower pivot blocks 34 and 96; respectively, areadjustable across the door opening i.e. through the released connection accomplished by set screw 36 and teeth 36, 92,wh.ich

facilitates selective positioning of a .door in the door 7 opening.

Mounted in the top surface of the panel 18 adjacent the outer side edge thereof is an upwardly projecting guide pin 112 adapted to project into bottom slot 30 of track 22. This pin is slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore in a sleeve 114 mounted in a bore or recess 116'in the top edge of the door. Sleeve 114 has longitudinal fluting 118 and has a press fit in bore 116. The construction thereof, including the spring pressed guide pin 112, is substantially the same as the pivot pin 52 and sleeve 54 with the exception that sleeve 114 has an enlarged upper socket'portion 120. Guide pin 112 has a flange 122 disposed-downward- 1y from the upper end thereof, and the parts are dimensioned such that the upper end of the pin'112 together with its flange 122 are adapted to move into the socket portion 120. a

' In the mounted position of the door, the pivot pins 52 and 98 are associated with their respective pivot blocks and the guide pin 112 disposed in the slot 30 of track 22. Thus, as the door is opened by collapsing the same on its hinges 20 the guide pin 112 rides toward the pivot end in the track 22 and guides this outer end of the door in such movement. In the fully opened position of the door the upper end of guide pin 112 engages in notch 44which serves to hold the door open.

For installing the door assembly the track 22 and pivot housing 76 are secured to the door framing by means of gluing strip 26. This is accomplished rapidly and easily by a single workman since the parts are merely pressed firmly against the framing with the workman using both quence and thus is easily taken out for the purpose of cleaning, repairing, etc.

Vertical positioning of the door, either in the initial mounting thereof or to compensate for later irregularities in the door framing, is accomplished by threaded adjustment of pivot pin 28 in its sleeve, and horizontal or lateral positioning of the door is accomplished by suitably locating pivot blocks 34 and 98, the block 34 being adjusted by loosening the set screw 36 and the block 90 being adjusted by the selective engagement thereof with the teeth 86.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape,

'size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Mounting structure for supporting a folding door in a doorway defined by a head piece, a side jamb and a floor, w erein the folding door includes an inner section and an outer section foldable relative thereto, the mounting structure comprising:

(a) an elongated track adapted to be supported by the head piece and having a longitudinal guide slot therein facing downward,

(b) upper stationary pivot socket means mounted at the end of the track adjacent the side jamb and having a pivot socket therein,

(c) lower stationary pivot socket means adapted to be mounted on the floor adjacent the side jamb and including (1) a pivot block having a socket in its upper face,

(2) an elongated pivot-block housing adapted to be secured to the floor and to extend substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening,

(3) the housing being arranged to receive the pivot block freely therein for adjustable movement longitudinally thereof and to confine the pivot block against lateral movement relative thereto,

(4) a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth on the surface of the pivot block housing facing the pivot block,

(5) and at least one tooth on the surface of the pivot block facing the housing teeth for engagement therewith for securing the block to the housing in adjusted position wherein the pivot block socket. is aligned vertically with the pivot socket ,in the upper stationary pivot socket means,

((1) upper pivot pin means adapted to be secured to the upper end of the inner door section and including a pivot pin mounted for retraction toward the door section but projecting therefrom for seating in the pivot socket of the upper pivot socket means,

(e) lower pivot pin means adapted to be secured to the lower end of the inner door section insubstantial alignment with the pivot pin of the upper pivot pin means and arranged for seating in the pivot socket of the pivot block,

(f) guide pin means adapted to be secured to the upper end of the outer door section and comprising (1) an elongated body having a central longitudinal bore extending inwardly from the outer end thereof,

(2) a pivot-pin in the bore having a guide head on its outer end normally projecting outwardly from the body for engagement with the guide slot in the track and arranged for retractable reception within the bore,

(3) resilient means interengaging the body and guide pin and urging the latter to its normal projecting position,

(4) and gripping means on the outer end of the body adapted to secure the latter frictionally in a bOre in the outer door section,

g) and resilient catch means on the end of the upper pivot socket means facing the guide pin, the catch means being aligned with the guide slot in the track and dimensioned to releasably grip the guide pin for holding the folding door in folded position.

2. F or use with a folding door structure having axially aligned upper and lower pivot pins projecting from the upper and lower ends of an inner section of the folding door; pivot pin mounting means comprising:

(a) socket means for the upper pivot pin adapted to be secured to the head piece defining the door opening and arranged to receive the upper pivot pin freely therein,

(b) a pivot block having a socket in its upper face for seating the lower pivot pin therein,

(c) an elongated pivot block housing adapted to be 5 6 secured to the floor defining the door opening and t0 References Cited by the Examiner extend substantially parallel to the plane of the door UNITED STATES PATENTS opening,

(d) the housing having a longitudinal recess in its upper 2,765,998 10/ 5 5 Engeft 248*205 surface arranged to receive the pivot block freely 5 2,795,392 Lallterbachel' at therein for adjustable movement longitudinally there- 2,819,486 1/58 Dick 1644 of and to confine the pivot block against lateral move- 2,860,701 11/58 Wood et a1 160-206 ment relative thereto, 2,962,3' 19 11/ 60 North et al 29217 (e) a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth on the 2,973,54 3 1 Roche 15 43 upper surface of the recess in the pivot block housing 10 5 47 9 2 B d lf 160 206 facmg the Plvotblock, 3,061,346 10/62 Jorgensen 292 17 (f) and at least one tooth on the surface of the pivot 3 078 502 2763 Nelson block facing the housing teeth for engagement there- 3:096:539 7/63 a l' z' j with for securing the block to the housing in longitudinally adjusted position wherein the pivot block 15 socket is aligned vertically with the socket means for HARRISON MOSELEY Pnmary m the upper pivot pin. 

2. FOR USE WITH A FOLDING DOOR STRUCTURE HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED UPPER AND LOWER PIVOT PINS PROJECTING FROM THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF AN INNER SECTION OF THE FOLDING DOOR; PIVOT PIN MOUNTING MEANS COMPRISING: (A) SOCKET MEANS FOR THE UPPER PIVOT PIN ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE HEAD PIECE DEFINING THE DOOR OPENING AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE THE UPPER PIVOT PIN FREELY THEREIN, (B) A PIVOT BLOCK HAVING A SOCKET IN ITS UPPER FACE FOR SEATING THE LOWER PIVOT PIN THEREIN, (C) AN ELONGATED PIVOT BLOCK HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE FLOOR DEFINING THE DOOR OPENING AND TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE DOOR OPENING, (D) THE HOUSING HAVING A LONGITUDINAL RECESS IN ITS UPPER SURFACE ARRANGED TO RECEIVE THE PIVOT BLOCK FREELY THEREIN FOR ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND TO CONFINE THE PIVOT BLOCK AGAINST LATERAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, (E) A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TEETH ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE RECESS IN THE PIVOT BLOCK HOUSING FACING THE PIVOT BLOCK, (F) AND AT LEAST ONE TOOTH ON THE SURFACE OF THE PIVOT BLOCK FACING THE HOUSING TEETH FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH FOR SECURING THE BLOCK TO THE HOUSING IN LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTED POSITION WHEREIN THE PIVOT BLOCK SOCKET IS ALIGNED VERTICALLY WITH THE SOCKET MEANS FOR THE UPPER PIVOT PIN. 